Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh set a new benchmark at the Hockey India League (HIL) auction on Sunday, becoming the most expensive player of the day. The star drag-flicker was snapped up by Soorma Hockey Club for a whopping ₹78 lakh.

In a highly competitive auction, all eight franchises invested heavily in securing key players from the Indian men’s hockey team. Following Harmanpreet, forward Abhishek was the second-highest buy of the day, going to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for ₹72 lakh, while midfielder Hardik Singh was acquired by UP Rudras for ₹70 lakh.

The auction has generated significant excitement ahead of the league, with teams focused on building formidable squads by targeting the core players of India’s national team. The Hockey India League, set to return after a five-year hiatus, promises intense action as these star players take to the field for their respective franchises.